Across Nigeria, his name reverberates in effusive decibels. In Abuja or Abia, in Zamfara or Zaria, wherever and whenever issues of development and exemplary governance are at the core of public conversations, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s inimitable accomplishments are celebrated in flattering superlatives. Even bards and songsters panegyrise the governor’s catchphrase, ItesiwajuEko, in poetic verses and fulsome musical renderings.

And it cannot but be so. In the last three and half years, the Epe-born accounting expert has sedulously redefined public administration in Nigeria’s commercial capital, leaving ineffaceable footprints all over the state.

Born on June 14, 1963, the governor served in various capacities in the Lagos State Civil Service for 27 years before voluntarily retiring. Married to Bolanle and blessed with children, the 14th Governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has won several awards both home and abroad for his international best practices and good governance deliverables.

Ambode hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration as governor on May 29, 2015. He started by rejuvenating and restructuring the state civil service. Then a fresh breath was injected into the state’s public health system. The general hospitals were equipped with modern facilities. Dozens of brand new Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances as well as transport ambulances were procured for the health institutions in the state. New structures sprung up in many health facilities.Determined to birth a new Lagos operating on a 24-hour economy, Ambode initiated the Light-Up Lagos project, which ensured the provision of streetlights all over the state.

On November 27, 2015, Ambode left millions of Nigerians with mouths hanging open in unabashed incredulity. On that day, the governor handed over 100 salon cars, 55 Ford Ranger pick-up vans, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser pick-up vans, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 power bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gun boats, 15 armoured personnel carriers and a number of other security gadgets valued at N4.765 billion to the Nigeria Police for the safety of Lagos dwellers.

For economic growth, Ambode’s partnership with the Kebbi State government resulted in the popular LAKE Rice. Artisans and physically-challenged people are being empowered from time to time. Town hall meetings are held across the state every quarter. Hundreds of new roads have been constructed while scores of others are being built, all with walkways and streetlights, in all parts of the state. Ambode’s urban renewal initiatives have ensured the incredible metamorphosis of Epe, Abule-Egba, Ojodu-Berger, Lekki, with new flyovers making life better for commuters. Oshodi has since become a huge construction site, even as new lay-bys at congested bus stops are shrinking the gridlocks in the mega city.

In our statistical data collation and analysis across the country, it shows Lagos State Cooperative Economy has grown within the last three and half years under your governance. It’s now above One Hundred and Fifty-Two Billion Naira (NGN152,000,000,000:00) and generates over Twenty-Five Thousand (25,000) jobs/employments and securing indirectly the livelihood of over two (2) million indigenes and residents who are cooperative societies members in Lagos State.

The Passage of the Lagos State Cooperative College bill into Law is a great feat that you alone remain the only Governor in our contemporary Nigeria that has achieved such feat, and giving serious attention to cooperative education. Thus, fulfilling the 5th Principles of Cooperation, this we know will go a long way in enhancing the cooperative sector in Lagos State and the nation at large.Hence, the consensus voting of our college Jurors to honor this exemplary cooperative leadership trait and hereby awarded with the National Cooperative Award as the Most Outstanding Governor of the Year 2018 and a National Patron of CRASoN for the enabling environment provided for the cooperative sub-sector to thrive better economically and socially in the State.